Submitted Papers

Models of Prosocial Action from WWII and the Hungarian Holocaust in Hungary: Hungarian Righteous Gentiles and Researchers in the Hungarian Diaspora

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
Conference theme is addressed through prosocial behaviors of those honored as Hungarian Righteous Gentiles, designation bestowed by Yad Vashem on those who risked their lives to save Jews in the Holocaust, and from seminal contributions of two Hungarian diaspora researchers in the USA to the literature of optimal flow, positive interactions, and actions against hate. Hungarian Righteous Among the Nations women mentioned are the Csizmadia family (Malvina, Olga, Iren, Maria), immigrants to Israel, and Celestine Loewenberg-Loen and activist leader Margit Slachta, both diaspora Hungarians in USA. Military are represented by Imre Reviczky, Zoltan Kubinyi, and Bela Kiralyi, leader on the Russian front during WWII who treated conscripted Jewish men humanely and noted diaspora scholar in USA before his return to Hungary. Religious in diplomatic roles include Papal Nuncio Angelo Rotta and deputy Gennaro Verolino, whose Righteous Gentile status was promoted by Hungarian diaspora resident of Australia Frank Vajda, and immigrant Tibor Baranski who served on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council. Also featured are two diaspora Hungarians whose innovative research in the United States was influenced by their experiences abroad: in World War II by Mihalyi Czikszentmihalyi and flow theory from postwar observations, and by Erwin Staub, saved by Wallenberg at age six in the Hungarian Holocaust, author on helping behavior and altruism and imperatives for education. Presentation will conclude with ways in which prosocial actions can be encouraged in today’s world to envision and forge a better future.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Dr. Biro earned a B.A. in political science at Chatham College, an MLS and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and two certificates in Holocaust studies from Yad Vashem. Retired from Duquesne University, she researches Hungarian and Hungarian- American children's and adolescent literature and Righteous Gentiles in the Hungarian Holocaust. Published articles include: “Representations of Budapest in 1944-1945 in Holocaust Literature,” Comparative Central European Holocaust Studies. Eds. Louise O. Vasvari and Steven Totosy de Zepetnek. Purdue University Comparative Culture Series. West Lafayette IN: Purdue UP, 2009, 3-17, and “Christian Leadership in the Hungarian Holocaust: Celebrating the Moral Courage of Righteous Gentiles,” Proceedings of the Sixth Holocaust Education Conference, 2003. Ed. Kathleen McSharry. Greensburg: National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education, Seton Hill University, 2005, 39-52. Several book reviews appear in Hungarian Cultural Studies. rgbiro@gmail.com

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The Importance of Hungarian Language Education in Preserving the Identity of Hungarians Living in Diaspora [withdrawn]

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
The study aims to give a comprehensive view on the Hungarian language education of those living in the Hungarian Diaspora. Through the review of international literature the authors examine the situation and position of Hungarians living outside the borders and the preservation of their identity as well as the history of their language education and its current trends. As a case study of the identity preserving activities of Hungarian Diaspora, the authors introduce the community organising activities of Hungarian Diaspora living on the different continents, and their Hungarian language education with its advantages and problems as well. Besides this, the study compares an Australian, North-American and Latin-American school and their language education as well as the identity preserving activities of Hungarian Diaspora living there.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
The study was made by three authors; each will present at the conference.

Ákos Jarjabka is an Associate Professor at the University of Pécs, Faculty of Business and Economics, where he received his PhD in 2004. Since 20013 he has been the head of the Department of Leadership and Organizational Sciences. His publications encompass the science of leadership, international management, and project management. Since 2005 he has been a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He is the leader of the University of Pécs Diaspora Program. akos@ktk.pte.hu

Jenő Palotai earned his BSc degree in the University of Pécs, at the Faculty of Business and Economics of Managemant in the topic of project management, his MSc degree in the topic of talent management. Since 2015 he is a PhD student in the topic of political geography, cultural geography, geopolitics at the Faculty of Sciences, Doctorate School of Earth Sciences in the Department of Political Geography, Development and Regional Studies. His publications encompass hungarian culture, cross border studies, hungarian minority research, as well. palotai@gamma.ttk.pte.hu

Viktor Wetzl earned his BSc degree in the University of Pécs, at the Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Geography, in the topic of regional and urban development, his MSc degree in the topic of tourism geography and regional development. Since 2015 he is a PhD student in the topic of political geography, cultural geography, geopolitics at the Faculty of Sciences, Doctorate School of Earth Sciences in the Department of Political Geography, Development and Regional Studies. His publications encompass tourism development, hungarian culture, cross border studies, hungarian culture historical geography, as well. Science. viktorwetzl@gmail.com

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Immigrant Integration and Identity Maintenance by Education. Helen Horvath's Special Educational Method for Hungarian Immigrants in Cleveland.

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
Immigrant Integration and Identity Maintenance by Education -- Helen Horvath’s special educational method for Hungarian immigrants in Cleveland, 1901 -1940
The problem how to find the balance between assimilation and identity maintenance of the migration process to lead proper integration in a new society was a crucial question in the history and is the present age as well. This issue raised different problems for every waves of Hungarian immigration in America depending on the historical, economical and cultural conditions. There are, however, human factors as well being the same and valid among all conditions and for all generations: the problems of human dignity, partnership, understanding and acceptance at both sides. The recognition of the importance these values mean the basis for Helen Horvath’s philosophy and for her successful educational program arranged for Hungarian immigrants in Cleveland in the first decades of the twentieth century, a unique model for adult education of her time. This paper attempts to present her special approach and methods carrying this idea and applied in the classroom of her language schools or citizenship courses and outside the classroom in the community as well. It is worthwhile to study her dual role in the Cleveland Hungarian community and the American society in the Americanization program of the City of Cleveland. She was well known and remembered from time to time by the next generations, but her approach and attempt and value system needs more research and deserves more recognition even today.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Kovacs Ilona librarian, retired department head of the National Széchényi Library, Budapest.
She gained her diplomas at the Budapest University (ELTE, 1961) and at Kent State University, Ohio (MLS, 1975), and her doctoral degree at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA 1993). Her research area is Hungarians abroad focusing on American Hungarians. As head of the Hungarica Documentation she was director of grants for collecting information and documentation and build up Hungarica databases and also conducting surveys to publish a series of publications on Hungarica material of libraries in Europe, Australia and Canada. She attended several international conferences in Europe, USA, Canada and Hungary and published over 100 articles, studies and books. She was a Fulbright scholar at the American Hungarian Foundation in the AYs 1995 and 2001/03. bpilona.kovacs@gmail.com

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Optimizing the Lecture in Medical Education: Lecturing at the University of Pécs Medical School and Lessons for Hungarian and US Teachers Based on Medical Student Feedback

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
The University of Pécs Medical School includes an English language MD program (Hungary's oldest, established in 1984) and features 3,600 students from 66 countries study at the medical school. As with medical schools in the United States, Hungarian instructors are grappling with the best methods for encouraging student engagement, promoting retention of material, generating interest in their area of curricular study, and encouraging critical analysis (as well as the application of problem solving to other medical fields). Understanding the expectations and biases of current medical students (including Hungarian and international students studying in Hungary) can help assist instructors in designing course materials, aligning instructor efforts with student expectations, and creating a more robust learning environment.

The overlap in medical education goals in the Hungarian diaspora in America, all current American students and all current students in the Hungarian education system are surprisingly great, especially when one considers the commonalities of healthcare curriculum and the universality of health not knowing borders or races. Additionally, the expectations of students in medical studies may not be vastly different from students in other realms of study; the common goals of mastering core material and career development are not unique to a particular discipline.

The results of a student survey conducted in early 2018 at the University of Pécs medical school will be presented. Additionally, a brief summary of lessons learned from teaching at Pécs in 2017 and resulting suggestions regarding enhancing lectures will be added.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Andrew Lee studied biological sciences before continuing his graduate education in public health and medicine at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Washington, DC-area hospitals. Not a practicing medical doctor, he works as science instructor interested in improving how students learn to improve their retention of material, engage with new ideas and apply often abstract ideas to everyday life. He teaches college biology and microbiology (at Northern Virginia Community College) along with medical biology (involving molecular biology and clinical applications) and medical public health (at George Washington and Georgetown medical schools) in the Washington, DC area. His ongoing research, studying the impact of student observation of fine art as a predictive measure of student academic success is ongoing. New research, in conjunction with the University of Pécs Medical School Institute of Public Health, examines medical student mental health across four countries. ajlee@nvcc.edu

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New Challenges in a New Era: The History of the Partium Christian University

Type of Abstract (select):

Abstract (max. 250 words):
In my paper I want to present the history of the Partium Christian University from Nagyvárad, Romania. The university was set up after the events of 1989 in order to help the ethnic Hungarians to study in their native tongue. It was the first Hungarian university after more than forty years of Communism. The beginnings were characterized by many hardships but the founders believed in their dream to have a university where the language of instruction would be only Hungarian and that would give the possibility to the Hungarians from Transylvania to study on their native tongue. I will offer a detailed study of the university. I will present the different specializations from the beginnings till nowadays.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Enikő Maior, PhD. teaches at Partium Christian University in Oradea, Romania. She is the author of several scholarly publications on Jewish American literary themes. In the first half of 2013 she was a SCIEX fellow working at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland under the guidance of Professor Thomas Austenfeld. She was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and would work at the Central Connecticut State University for the first half of 2018. She likes to balance teaching, administration and research in her life.enikomaior@yahoo.com

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